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Rev. Henry V. Spielmann, O.S.A. (1912 - 2009)

Rev. Henry V. Spielmann, O.S.A. entered eternal life November 2, 2009. At age 97, he was the oldest member of the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.

Henry Valentine Spielmann was born in Bronx, New York in 1912 to Valentine J. and Theresa Spielmann. He was Baptized February 4, 1912 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, New York, New York. He received the Sacrament of confirmation June 2, 1921 at Holy Spirit, New York.

Henry attended three elementary schools in New York: Our Savior, Holy Spirit and St. Nicholas of Tolentine, from which he graduated in 1927. He attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School, then transferred to Regis High School, which awarded him a diploma in 1931.

He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 12, 1931. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 13, 1932 and solemn (permanent) vows September 13, 1935.

He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College (now University), Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1936. He holds an M.S. in Library Science from Villanova (1958). He did additional studies in 1990 at Tulsa Junior College, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After receiving his B.A. in 1936, he pursued the course of theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. until 1940. He was ordained a Priest May 30, 1939.

Father Spielmann was assigned in 1940 to teach Biology, Theology and Mathematics at Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He remained at Cascia Hall for the rest of his life. Among his students were Robert J. LaFortune, former Mayor of Tulsa; Frank Keating, former Governor of Oklahoma, and two Augustinian friars now assigned to Cascia Hall, Rev. Theodore E. Tack, O.S.A. and Rev. William Perez, O.S.A.

Father Spielmann was an avid supporter of athletic programs at Cascia Hall. He was instrumental in developing Cascia Hall’s early basketball and baseball teams. He served as the school’s first baseball coach. In season, one would often see him working on the grounds and landscaping at Cascia.

After 42 years of teaching, he retired from the classroom and worked to organize Cascia’s alumni. He was a walking encyclopedia of Cascia alumni from his era. Because of his phenomenal memory, he could tell people whom a particular alumnus had married, where he was living, how many children he had and what their names were.

Besides his work in the school, Father Spielmann also fulfilled roles of service to his brothers in Augustine. He was Prior (local superior) of the Augustinian Community at Cascia from 1967 to 1975, and its Business Manager from 1975 to 1981.

In 1986 Father Spielmann wrote in Towers, the school yearbook, about his early days at Cascia, “These were happy days for me because, while the times were hard and money scarce, we had a tremendous amount of fraternal togetherness. The friendships formed among religious and laity at this time prevail today.” He was a joyful person to be around and remained good friend of many in the Tulsa area.

Because of declining physical abilities, Father Spielmann moved in 2007 to The Villa at Montereau, an assisted living facility in Tulsa. He remained at Montereau until the time of his death.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa.

Memorial gifts may be made to:

• Fr. Spielmann Scholarship Fund, Cascia Hall Foundation, 2520 S. Yorktown Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114-2803, or

• Augustinian Guild, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1011, or via Augustinian Guild Secure On-line Giving.

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